"What Kind of God?"

 

    The documentary ended with the man considered to be the most brilliant of this generation declaring, "There is no God.  There is no heaven or hell, no afterlife.  We only have this life to appreciate the wonder and complexity of the universe."

 

     Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ respond to such notions in many ways.  We may feel anger, sadness, bewilderment, frustration and even fear for the person who makes such a claim.  We're also likely to remember the Bible's pronouncement upon those who allow their minds to be so enshrouded with darkness and nonsense that they miss the most obvious reality of our existence:  "The fool hath said in his heart, "There is no God" (Psalm 14:1). 

 

    There is another response, however, that directs our attention not toward the sad victims of the Satan who "blinds the minds of them which believe not" (II Corinthians 4:4).  Namely, what kind of God creates beings who can reject the very fact of their Creator's existence?  How must the mind of such a One function that He would allow those who depend upon Him for "life and breath and all things" to despise and hate Him? (Acts 17:25).  Most importantly, what must His heart be like that He would love such ones to the degree that He gave His Son to a terrible death of sorrow, suffering and forsakenness in order to make possible their redemption from darkness?

 

    Atheism tells us more about God than it does about man.  When encountered, we'll have the normal human-oriented responses mentioned above, which should lead us to pray for those who miss the great fact of their existence.  Nevertheless, an altar of wonder and subsequent praise awaits us as we consider the greatness and goodness of the Lord who does not program or force His creation into subservience.  Our Heavenly Father rather desires real and true relationship with the hearts of those who freely acknowledge and love Him.  "I will love Thee, o Lord, my strength" declared David concerning the great mystery of human freedom - "I will" - and the necessity of Divine leading and enabling - "O Lord, my strength" (Psalm 18:1).  What tragedy that so many miss and fail to appreciate the true "wonder of the universe."  God Himself is that wonder, and rather than purveying darkness, the atheist actually shines a bright ray of light upon the One he himself determines not to see.

 

"The light shineth in darkness."

(John 1:5)